An exposition by way of supplement, on the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of the prophecy of Amos where you have the text fully explained ... : together with a confutation of Dr. Holmes, and Sir Henry Vane, in the end of the commentary / by Tho. Hall ...

OBSERVATIONS.

1 Sin and sorrow are inseparable companions.

Flagitium & flagellum, are like the Needle and the Thread, the one goes before, and the other follows, Isa. 63.10. 1 Cor. 10.8.9.10. we read before of Israels Sin, and now we read of his Suffering; and to assure them of it, The Lord swears it. If men will sin against the Lord, let them be sure at first or last their sin will finde them out, Numb. 32.23. Gods Word had been sufficient to assure us of this, but be∣cause we are incredulous, he confirms it with an Oath, that none might doubt of it. Ask Men and Angels, Houses, Cities, Kingdoms, and they will all tell you, that it was sin that laid them in the dust.

2 A People may so far incense the Lord to wrath by their sins, that hee may swear their ruine.

When Israel had long hardned their hearts against God, at last he swears they should never enter into his rest, Psal. 95.11. Patience abused turns into fury, and makes the Lord to swear mens utter rejection, 1 Sam. 15.28, 29. this people had highly provoked the Lord, and therefore this is the third time which the Lord swears against them, Amos 4.2. & 6.8.

3 The favour and presence of God with a People, is the glory and excellenc•• of a people.

It is not Corn, Wine, Women, Health, Wealth, or multi∣tudes of people that make a Nation happy, for then Turks,

and Tartars, Barbarians, and Indians should excell Gods Peo∣ple▪ for they abound with these external comforts; but happy is that people whose God is the Lord,* 1.1 Psal. 144. ult. Hence the Lord is called, The excellency of Iacob, and the Glory of Israel. He was their inestimable Treasure, and true Honour, who made them truly glorious, Psal. 106.20. & 148.14. Ier. 2.11. Luke 2.32. Hence Moses glories in this above all other Priviledges, That there was no people that had the Lord their God so nigh unto them in all that they called upon him for, as the Lord our God hath been to them, Deut. 4.7, 8. The Wife shines with the rayes of her Husband, Ezek. 16.14. the fruition and enjoyment of Gods favour is the life of our lives, and the honour of our honours, without this we may write I∣chabod upon all that we have, There is no glory. The greater is their sin then who dishonour him by their sin, who is their real excellency, and turn the glory which he hath put upon them into shame. This makes the Lord to swear that he will strip them of their Priviledges, and make them naked, as in the day when they were born. He will take away not only his Corn and Wine but his Sabbaths, and Sacraments, which are the real glory of a people, and give them to a people which shall yeeld him better obedience.

4 Cathes are tremendous and dreadful things.

They must be taken with abundance of fear and reverence. Hence it is that the Holy Ghost here conceals the Imprecati∣on, implying thereby, that men should tremble at the very thoughts of what will follow if they swear falsly.

5 God records and remembers all the wickedness of the wicked.

He forgets none, no not one of their works, though they themselves do. As hee hath a book of remembrance for all the good which his people have done, which shall at the last Day be publisht to their everlasting praise▪ Mal. 3.16. Mat. 25.34, 35. so he hath a book of remembrance for all the wicked works of the ungodly, which shall be opened at the last Day, and set in order before them to their everlasting shame, Psal. 50.21. Mat. 25.41, 42. then shall they give an account of their Stewardship, and must be no longer Stew∣ards, Luke 16.2. nothing can pass his All-seeing-Eye; hee records not some, but All their works; and though he may

seem for a time to connive and take no notice of their sins but lets them prosper in their wickedness;* 1.2 yet at last he will make them know that he hath not forgot any of their works, when he shall execute his Justice fully upon them.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See my Con••. on Psal. 73.25.
• * 1.2

  See my Com. on Hos. 13.12. Obs 1.